Charleston Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When a health care provider makes a preventable medical error and the patient is harmed rather than helped by the treatment, it could be considered Medical Malpractice.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical malpractice in Charleston, SC or anywhere in South Carolina, West Law can help guide you through the process of a potential medical negligence claim. Caroline West takes a personal interest in each client and will not rest until the negligent healthcare provider is held accountable.
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Get in touch with our medical malpractice attorney, Caroline West for a free consultation. Experience always matters but in a medical malpractice case, it is of utmost importance. Carolina has over 25 years of legal experience helping people who have been harmed.
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Health care providers in Charleston and throughout South Carolina have a legal responsibility to follow the recognized standard of care in providing treatment. When a patient is injured instead of helped, the medical professional may be liable for medical malpractice. This includes doctors, dentists, nurses, physician’s assistants, chiropractors, surgeons, pharmacists, hospitals, trauma centers, surgical centers, birthing centers, nursing homes, and more.
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Without an experienced medical malpractice lawyer and a full investigation, it is hard to know if you are a victim of medical malpractice. To prove “substandard medical care”, a full, independent investigation by a qualified Charleston medical malpractice attorney is where you’ll ant to start. Typically, healthcare providers will not acknowledge that they have made a serious, preventable medical error.
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Our Charleston Medical Injury lawyer is ready to help you determine whether you may be a victim of medical negligence and the next steps in holding the healthcare provider accountable.
How much is an average medical malpractice settlement?
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According to National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) data, the average payout for a medical malpractice claims from 2009-2018 was approximately $308,000.
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How many cases of medical malpractice are there?
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There have been, on average, 12,414 cases of medical malpractice reported to the NPDB annually for the past decade (2009-2018).
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How many people are killed by medical mistakes?
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According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, more than 250,000 people in the U.S. die every year from medical errors and negligence. This makes medical malpractice the third-leading cause of death in the United States.
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Types of Medical Malpractice Cases
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Medical Injuries due to negligence come in many forms. Accidents or errors happen in emergency rooms, delivery rooms, surgery wards, and doctors’ offices in Charleston and throughout South Carolina. Surgical Injuries, Failure to Diagnose, Anesthesia Errors, Medication Errors, Emergency Room Mistakes, Labor and Delivery, and more.
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If you feel that you’ve been harmed by a preventable medical error involving a Charleston healthcare provider, you may have a legal right to seek compensation and hold them accountable. Our medical malpractice attorney, Caroline West is an experienced trial lawyer who will fight for you and help guide you through the complicated waters of a medical malpractice claim.
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Statute of Limitations on Medical Malpractice
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Proving medical negligence in Charleston or anywhere in South Carolina is complicated. Whether a healthcare provider’s error meets the definition of malpractice depends on whether they deviated from the recognized standard of care and the patient was harmed as a result. That requires a technical analysis of the patient’s medical records by independent medical professionals to offer an opinion of whether malpractice occurred. It is critical to have an experienced Charleston medical malpractice lawyer handling your case.
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Damages Available in Medical Malpractice Cases in Charleston, SC
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Compensation types for a person harmed by medical malpractice in South Carolina may include:
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Medical costs for additional follow-up surgeries or medical care required because of medical negligence
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Lost income from missed work
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Pain & suffering and mental anguish
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A spouse’s loss of consortium
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Punitive damages
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If West Law agrees to pursue your medical malpractice case, it will be handled on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee arrangement allows a person to obtain legal representation without having to pay money out of pocket. You will only pay a fee if we are successful in obtaining a recovery for you through a negotiated insurance settlement or a jury award. Many medical malpractice cases are settled outside of court.
Consult with a Charleston Medical Malpractice Attorney Today.